​Last week the First Lady announced that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized a “new and improved” Nutrition Facts Label that will help consumers make more informed food choices. The new adaptation takes into consideration emerging nutrition science and is the first significant update to the label since it was released over 20 years ago.

Here is what the Nutrition Facts Label will look like in the next 2-3 years.

As you can see, “calories,” “servings,” and “servings per container” will be more pronounced, and servings sizes will better reflect how much we currently eat, which differs from what and how much people consumed two decades ago.

Plus, potassium and vitamin D will be joining calcium and iron whereas vitamins A and C are no longer required. Both amounts and percent daily values (%DV) will be listed.

I’m pleased about the above changes, but I am most excited that the updated Nutrition Facts Label will be obligated to declare the amount of added sugars as well as the percent daily value (%DV) for added sugars.

“Added sugar” includes sugars and syrups added to foods during processing, preparation or at the table. Unlike naturally occurring sugars present in fruits, vegetables, milk and yogurt, added sugar offers zero nutritional benefit. Even so, the majority of us eat too much of it, and it’s making us sick.